November 26, 2024 by Quirk Books
Copy provided by the publisher
If I were between 10 and 24, I think it's likely I would be a Swiftie. I was greatly impressed with her 2014 song Shake It Off, and even bought the 1989 album. Before that, the only other music I've purchased in the last twenty years have been Weird Al albums! Her social media presence seems balanced and humorous, and she seems like a genuinely nice person, which can't be an easy thing to remain when one is so wildly famous. When I saw this new book from Quirk, I knew it would be popular with students, and I HAD to know how Swift was connected to Robert Frost's poems!
I love that the authors wanted to prove that Swift writes "intellectual bops"; that sort of explains the number of authors and librarians I see on social media who are fans. Since I am not all that current on modern music, this was a great way for me to take a look at some of her work, even though I haven't looked at the literary qualities of pop songs since my former flower child teacher popped Simon and Garfunkel on the turntable in my senior English class.
Broken into different "eras" (which I really need someone to explain to me!), the authors take single lines from songs and discuss a wide variety of influences, meanings, and connections to other works. In between these observations, they helpfully give more information about some topics, like J.M. Barrie's Lost Boys, poet Christina Rossetti, or The Great Gatsby. There are some nice lists (songs that include references to god or ghosts and hauntings, or book recommendations for certain songs. I'm curious as to how many young fans might pick up Dylan Thomas or Sylvia Plath after reading this book; it's certainly a good way to encourage fans to look at some classic literature.
While I thought that the minute parsing of lines got a bit repetitive, I am not the intended audience. Would I have memorized a similar book about the lyrics of Karen Carpenter (even though she didn't write the songs)? Absolutely. Would I have then gone to the library and checked out as many of the titles Feder and Tatreau mention? Also absolutely.
The cover of this is gorgeous, and when I had the book at school, my avid fans wanted to know when it would be available. I ordered several Swift biographies and titles even though I usually don't buy these until the person has passed away, and they are never on the shelf. Buy a copy of this for a school library, but maybe let the public library handle the resultant requests for Jane Austen, Lord Byron, and T.S. Eliot. Wouldn't hurt to use this book as an opportunity to press the perennial middle school favorite, Emily Dickinson, on young readers, though!
March 4, 2025 by Scholastic Inc.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Evie feels like she has blown up her life in Winnetka, Illinois after finding out that her boyfriend was interested in her best friend, and causing a scene. Unwilling to deal with the fallout, she decides to decamp to London, even though it means spending time with her father, who left her and her mother after improving his diet, losing a lot of weight, and "improving" his life. Evie is much more casual than her tanned and toned, designer suit wearing father, and never really cares for the endless parade of much younger women that he dates. She takes some pleasure in taunting him by bringing crisp packets into his apartment and wearing flip flops and worn Target t shirts, but she really just misses the close and fun relationship that they used to have. She loves London, and since she is almost a senior in high school, is able to roam the city. On two occasions, she runs into a young guitarist busking on the sidewalks, singing heart wrenchingly sad songs. Intrigued, she asks him for coffee, and he accepts. Aiden is still in high school, but the school year isn't over, and he invites Evie to hang out with him the next time he plays. He is interested in Evie's problems, and unburdening herself to this new stranger feels good, especially since he also thinks her father is wrong about the way he treats her. Eventually, Evie gets to hang out with Aiden's friends, Dev and Fiona. She also spends time with her father's current girlfriend, Poppy, who is an exercise instructor who breaks up with the father but is still willing to spend time with Evie. It's hard to deal with her father's constant judgement, especially when Evie worries that he has mental issues of his own. He even agrees to go to a therapist, but doesn't stick with it. Evie learns more about Aiden's past, and why he only wants to talk about her problems, but knowing this information allows the two of them to do activities that are meaningful to them both, and they bond. Evie surprises Aiden with a train trip to Liverpool, but when the summer ends, what will happen to their relationship?
Strengths: Ah, London. I loved that Evie was familiar enough with the city to have favorite haunts, but was able to explore new places with Aiden. Being able to hang out with his friends and feel like she lived in the city was fantastic; I didn't really care about the drama in Winnetka, but that will appeal to younger readers. While her father's treatment of her isn't great, it is informed by his own trauma, and dealt with in a very modern way. She stands up to him, asks him to get therapy, and does reach a compromise about how they treat each other going forward. It was fun to see her interact with Poppy, who was pretty realistic about her chances with the father. Aiden was a sensitive, understanding 21st century guy who supported Evie and had his own problems. If I had read this is high school, chances are good that I would have visited London well before I turned 40.
Weaknesses: The Abba song in the title didn't make sense to me. I was wanting something British, darker and more alt rock to go along with Aiden's angsty music. There was one musician mentioned, but I didn't recognize him, so didn't know any songs. I doubt many of today's teens are all that familiar with Abba.
Weaknesses: The Abba song in the title didn't make sense to me. I was wanting something British, darker and more alt rock to go along with Aiden's angsty music. There was one musician mentioned, but I didn't recognize him, so didn't know any songs. I doubt many of today's teens are all that familiar with Abba.
What I really think: This is a good choice for fans of Kasie West's books, Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, Welch's Love and Gelato, or other travel based romances that appeal to high school and middle school readers alike.
I don't think I would recognize a Taylor Swift song except the one about Never Ever Getting Back Together but even the Little Golden Book about her is very popular!
ReplyDeleteI have read and liked several books by Elizabeth Eulberg and I think many have song lyrics in the title. Almost any book set in London sounds good to me!